- it’s now or never
- happy days
- double down
Introduction
Some things are easy to do – like mending the puncture on Rob’s bike. Find out about an expression that describes doing simple things like this, most of the time!
Feifei Hello and welcome to The English We Speak with me, Feifei
Rob And me, Rob. Feifei, I wonder if you can help me?
Feifei Of course. What is it?
Rob Well, when I was cycling to the office, I got a puncture, and I need help fixing it.
Feifei Sure, I can help you with that – it’s a doddle.
Rob Right, so you think it’s easy?
** Feifei** Yes – that’s what a doddle means. If we say something is a doddle, it means it’s easy to do. It’s an informal expression.
Rob If you say so! Now, can we hear some examples first?
Feifei Yes. That’s a doddle too….
Examples According to the instructions, building this bookshelf should be a doddle.
Getting to the museum is a doddle; you only need to take one train straight there.
The test was a doddle, and I got full marks.
Feifei You’re listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English, and we’re hearing about the expression a doddle. We can say this to mean it’s an easy task to do. Just like mending your bike puncture. In fact, it’s such a doddle, maybe I can show you how to fix it, Rob?
Rob Well, err, I did try and I managed to break the wheel.
Feifei Oh no, Rob. Maybe fixing your puncture won’t be such a doddle after all.
Rob Maybe not. Perhaps it’s time to start walking.
Feifei Good idea. Walking to work will definitely be a doddle!
Rob I hope so. Bye.
Feifei Bye.